modesty
Americannoun
plural
modesties-
the quality of being modest; freedom from vanity, boastfulness, etc.
-
regard for decency of behavior, speech, dress, etc.
-
simplicity; moderation.
noun
-
the quality or condition of being modest
-
(modifier) designed to prevent inadvertent exposure of part of the body
a modesty flap
Other Word Forms
- overmodesty noun
Etymology
Origin of modesty
From the Latin word modestia, dating back to 1525–35. See modest, -y 3
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The ease and modesty present in “Marc by Sofia” sometimes seem perplexing.
From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026
This was not just false modesty, it was a mature batter realising that his place in the larger scheme of things had been made so much easier by an ace teammate.
From BBC • Mar. 9, 2026
As I began talking with them about the years of advocacy that followed, Patricia’s modesty blushed.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 14, 2026
The first conspicuous virtue of the Constitution of Innovation project is its comparative modesty, arguing that the powers Brussels already has are more than enough.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 4, 2025
She confessed her affection for the seven Moscote sisters, for their beauty, their ability for work, their modesty, and their good manners, and she celebrated her son's prudence.
From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
